Final Thoughts

My Final thoughts of New Diplomacy
To me it’s one of my favourite module. I learned a lot about “Old” Diplomacy and “New” Diplomacy. The history how it’s started and today’s approach. I pictured diplomacy just the way it happened in the lectures and seminars. There is a great book i will recommend “Independent Diplomat”. In this book Carne Ross talks about state of diplomacy and the long way it took him to become a diplomat.

My understanding of diplomacy today

The simplest way to absorb daily information is to believe in everything that media makes public. However, the study of new diplomacy reveals hidden, complex, mysterious relations of political activity, certainly, diplomacy plays a crucial role. The more you study diplomatic art, the more suspicious world seems to be. This perhaps is the most important character making diplomacy more than the prestigious, intellectual political art or practice of conducting international relations, as in negotiating alliances, treaties, and agreements etc., but, at the same time, the dangerous, sceptical, self-centric, manipulative ever evolving arena, which requires special tact and skill in dealing with people. More than ever before, the century of globalisation holds new challenges which make diplomatic missions go beyond its limits, involving governmental and non-governmental activities of wide concerns. Nevertheless, public opinion building seems to be crucial succeeding in the missions across the globe, which suggests that society is an important player whichever way, in action or in silence, it will affect governmental policy - decision making.

All in all, diplomacy is very interesting, significantly powerful art of politics which affects us all unconsciously. Despite the hidden, dark channels of diplomatic practises (eg. propaganda, secrecy, spying, self-centric, often immoral activities ect.), I hope, that the future diplomacy will remain and strengthen its major aim - negotiating and cooperating for its own people; guaranteeing social, economic, environmental developments for more peaceful, equal, trustworthy, hatless world with less disease of nationalism, competition and secrecy. No doubt, that in the process of learning more about diplomacy we can increase our consciousness concerning international relations, peace and conflicts, governmental missions etc., we can also increase our respect towards diplomats by recognition of their complex and skilful role. However, in some cases, it leads to have a lack of respect concerning the fact that many of diplomatic missions are not fallowing ethical grounds. For this reason, NGOs might be more favourable or alternative diplomats in many ways, concerning the fact that their goal is 'humane', international, less political, profitable and nationalistic, which makes a good sense.

Finally, diplomacy is evolving process, looking back in history we can see many differences in its agenda and practises adopted to changing environment (geographic, social, political, economic, scientific, cultural etc.). However, at the same time, diplomacy kept its origins equal to its very beginning. It is still a process of maturity; teaching to cooperate, listen, understand, appreciate, tolerate, search for compromises, learn to negotiate in mature manner leaving egos behind, and very importantly, opening for consciousness and recognition of others, differences, rights, etc., Indeed, it is a wise process which requires wise, mature individuals, I would compare it with a process of growing old.

My understanding of diplomacy today

Before doing this module, I had a very basic understanding of diplomacy and a lack of insight into the multi-dimensional dynamics of contemporary diplomacy. I assumed that a diplomats job was basically to spy in a foreign country and safeguard their national interests. It is true that diplomats safeguard their national interests but I now know more about the complex nature of the job and the crucial role it plays in foreign relations. I've learned that with the evolution of diplomacy, contemporary diplomacy requires new methods of approach to achieve the objective of peace and and the idea of peace has changed to mean much more than just the absence of war. For example, I mentioned in my earlier blog that Obama recorded a Diwali message for Indian's celebrating the festival all over the world and it was very well received. But some of the new approaches aren't necessarily good for diplomacy as we have seen recently with UN Envoy Jan Pronk in Sudan over comments he made about the Sudanese government on his personal blog. He wrote "The morale in the government army in North Darfur has gone down. Some generals have been sacked; soldiers have refused to fight... Security Council resolutions which forbid armed mobilisation are being violated." The Sudanese government accused him of psychological warfare and he was ordered to leave the country. This situation also shows how much diplomacy has changed from when it was a discrete profession. The BBC said of his blog “His blog was startlingly detailed, the kind of information that is normally sent back, encoded, only to national capitals. Sometimes in a one-on-one talk, a journalist can get something similar from a lively envoy, but to get it in the raw on the internet is an innovation.” I also learned that more multi lateral diplomacy is carried out than on a bilateral basis and that this has allowed for new actors such as Non Governmental Organisations to play an important role in international organisations and this also meant that the exclusivity of overseas knowledge to the old diplomats came to an end.Overall, I have learned a few interesting things and especially that being a diplomat isn't all about champagne receptions.

Few interesting videos for diplomatic wonders: Can one person make a difference?

"RSA Animate – Empathic Civilisation" - Very interesting video which might be useful describing the psychology of diplomacy:

http://comment.rsablogs.org.uk/2010/05/06/rsa-animate-empathic-civilisation/


"Can One Person Make A Difference":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhZJ3sCNmqA


"We Are All One" - the inspiring short film to watch concerning environmentalism:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWtVTu6S51M&feature=player_embedded

The significance of non-state actors in trade negotiations

It is argued that 3^rd world debt is rooted in trade. According to the World Development movement, “if industrialised countries had not stacked the terms of trade so heavily in their favour, Southern countries would not have fallen so deeply into debt.” Many commentators believe it is a great injustice that instead of correcting the imbalance in world trade, northern governments have added more problems to the dilemma. For instance, in the past, northern countries have encouraged poor countries to export raw material to the west, ensuing in their further integration into debt. This was initially seen by many economists to be the best way for all the developing countries to produce wealth for the reason that commodities make up a large section of their income. However in practise this in fact had the opposite effect of the theory. Its major disadvantages included, poor countries having to rely on one or two basic exporting products since they were rarely allowed a range of difference thus resulting in dangerous economic affects if their major commodities were traded at low prices. This particular theory was dependant on consistent supply and demand and failed to take into account the inevitable drop in commodity prices hence making it a short term solution. Furthermore, raw materials do not produce as much wealth as manufactured goods.

NGOs now play a very important role in influencing trade negotiations and the World Development Movement (WDM) is an NGO that has campaigned on trade issues since 1995. In 2004 they stopped the UK and EU passing an agreement in the WTO which would have meant developing countries being forced to allow private countries taking over vital services such as water and banking. Ethical trading is also another significant focus of many NGO's and trying to make sure that companies adhere to internationally agreed labour standards. Another one of their past campaigns saw WDM campaign for the rights of Costa Rican workers on a banana plantation. The workers were “victimised” for joining free trade unions and after WDM supporters sent thousands of letters and organised events such as dumping a tonne of banana skins in front of the Del Monte office in the UK, Del Monte were put under enough pressure to sign a historic agreement allowing an independent trade union to freely organise on the plantation. These campaigns are examples of just how important the role of NGOs have become in international policy making and policy implementation.

Sources:

http://arno.unimaas.nl/show.cgi?fid=7321

http://www.wdm.org.uk/world-trade-organisation

http://www.wdm.org.uk/fairtrade-bananas

Trade and environmental diplomacy

In modern diplomacy diplomats have to pursue also commercial interests of their country.

Therefore diplomacy contain collaboration with international institutions, such as WTO, GATT, and there is increasing role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Barston argues: “Trade has traditional been a concern of diplomacy. Trade interests and trade policies are generally part of the central preoccupations of most states.  Ideally, trade policy and foreign policy should support each other.

Trade interests may be acquired for a number of reasons, such as long-standing commercial links, entrepreneurial exploitation of overseas markets or successful domestic lobbying, as in the case of European, Japanese or US farming interests.

In international trade the classical functions of diplomacy are in four areas:

-         multilateral rule making or rule changing

-         the creation of a favourable political setting or legal framework at a regional level

-         resolution of disputes

-         the creation of innovatory agreements.

The setting for international trade diplomacy is distinguished by the post-war growth in the number of multilateral institutions with a direct or indirect responsibility for trade (e.g. GATT/WTO, UNCTAD, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), IFC and International Labour Organisation (ILO)” (Barston, 2006, 134-135).

Trade diplomacy now involves domestic and international bargaining. Next agenda of Trade diplomacy are negotiations about reducing taxes, non-tariff barriers etc.

The example of involvement diplomacy in trade negotiation was in the Doha (in Qatar) ministerial round in November 2001, although there was reduced NGOs access.

Barston points out: “Trade negotiations at Doha involved 21 agenda areas, including carry-over issues from Uruguay Round and core traditional issues as industrial tariffs, market access, agriculture, trade in services, TRIPS etc.” (Barston, 2006, 140).

It can be concluded that trade issues play an important role in a modern diplomacy. For example, the Prime Minister David Cameron appointed successful businessmen as diplomats.

The development of science and industry is important for development of economy and society. However, there are also negative impacts on our planet.

Mankind make mile steps. For example, when a former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was born, people travelled on horses or walked. Since his death globalization, science and industry changed our lives even more. People produce enormous amount of CO₂ emissions, there are problems with waste, waste water etc.

Enormous production of Carbon dioxide makes holes in ozone layout of the planet. Consequently, it melts icebergs on both poles, rise sea levels and it makes also health problems. For example, people in Australia have increase of skin cancer.

Barston argues: “ Major incidents such as Chernobyl and Exon Valdez have the effect of dramatising a problem, galvanising non-governmental groups and influencing calls for the revision of international codes and rules.

Environmental diplomacy has involved an increasingly wide range of actors, including new intergovernmental organisations, UN and other international institutions, secretariats, elected conference officials, NGOs, as well as states.

The UN Conference on Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks is a classic example of a modern chair-led multilateral negotiation. The complex nature of the conference was underlined by the extensive range of interests: distant water fishing, coastal reformist, flag-registering countries, developing coastal states, newly industrialised import or transit states, FAO, intergovernmental fisheries organisations (e.g. International Commission on North Atlantic Tuna) and a variety of NGOs” (Barston, 2006, 151- 179).

To sum up, Environmental diplomacy has involved an increasingly wide range of actors, including new intergovernmental organisations, UN and other international institutions, secretariats, elected conference officials, NGOs, as well as states. The role of NGOs in international negotiations is increasing because they have expertise, access through resources and networks, such as CAN.

References:

Barston,R.P. (2006). Modern Diplomacy, 3^rd edition, Pearson Education Limited, Harlow

My understanding of diplomacy today

My understanding diplomacy today differs from my view on diplomacy in September.

I realized that diplomacy involved wider range of activities than I thought. For example, a modern diplomacy involves also trade issues, propaganda, NGOs, celebrities etc.

During evolution of diplomacy the role of diplomacy substantially changed.

Diplomacy is possible to understand from various points of view. For example, as managing international relations, way of communication, representation etc.

Diplomacy involves also information gathering and consular services. Diplomacy provides information for government, particularly in the United Kingdom it is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Diplomacy is crucial for making and the implementation of foreign policy.

White argues: “There are two major stages in foreign policy – the making and implementation (or carrying out) of policy.  A simple view suggests that the making of foreign policy is the exclusive business of government.  So important is foreign policy to the achievement of the ‘national interests’ of the state that the most senior members of government will oversee and control the policy process” (White, 2005, 396).

So what is the role of a diplomat and which virtues he/she should possess?

A diplomat at the present time must be able to pursue interests of his country abroad. Moreover, the person needs language, negotiation, IT skills etc.

However, Harold Nicolson points out at virtues of a diplomat in views of a French diplomat de Callières:

“The good diplomatist must have an observant mind, a gift of application which rejects being diverted by pleasures or frivolous amusements, a sound judgement which takes the measure of things as they are.

The good negotiator must have the gift of penetration such as will enable him to discern the thoughts of men and to deduce from the least movement of their features which passions are stirring within.

The diplomatist must be quick, resourceful, a good listener, courteous and agreeable. He should pay attention to women, but never lose his heart. Courage also is an essential quality.  The negotiator must possess the patience of a watch-maker and be devoid of personal prejudices.  He must have a calm nature, be able to suffer fools gladly, and should not be given to drink, gambling, women, irritability, or any other wayward humorous and fantasies” (Nicolson, 1954, 64-65).

As is seen above the list of abilities of a modern diplomat is very long. A diplomat has to possess those abilities and be able to use in a modern diplomacy.

Henry Kissinger - one of the most successful and important US diplomats

Tasks of diplomacy are also possible to divide to six areas.

Barston these tasks as follows:

1. Ceremonial:

-         Protocol

-         Representation

-         Visits

2. Management

-         Day-to day problems

-         Promotion of interests

-         Explanation and defence of policy

-         Strengthening bilateral relations

-         Bilateral co-ordination

-         Multilateral co-operation

3. Information and communication

-         Assessment and reporting

-         Monitoring

4. International negotiation
5. Duty of protection
6. Contribution to international order (Barston, 2006, 2)

It can be concluded that during the module I obtained new knowledge, information and skills about diplomacy. I understand diplomacy better and from broader point of view.

References:

Barston,R.P. (2006). Modern Diplomacy, 3^rd edition, Pearson Education Limited, Harlow

Nicolson,H. (1954). The Evolution of Diplomatic Methods, Constable and Company Ltd, London

White,B. in Baylis & Smith (2005). The Globalization of World Politics, 3^rd edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford